Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends: The Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation brings together health care professionals and compassionate individuals to support community-based health care services, such as the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. By sponsoring these vital services, we can improve the quality and accessibility of health care for the Asian American community. Since the establishment of the first community health centers in 1965, they have been an integral part of the American health care system, and they will continue to provide essential health care for millions of Americans for years to come. Community health centers provide affordable and high quality primary care and support services to many neighborhoods that lack access to care. As federally funded nonprofit organizations, they serve all patients regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. They also reduce costs by promoting preventive care. By addressing health issues before they become serious, community health centers help patients avoid costly emergency room visits and hospital stays. With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act last year, health insurance coverage will be extended to approximately 32 million uninsured Americans. However, about 20 million people will remain uninsured. These groups will still look to community health centers for their medical needs. Even for individuals who have health insurance, community health centers will continue to serve as affordable sources of high quality health care. On behalf of the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation and the people we serve, thank you for your generous donations in 2010. Without your support, our accomplishments would not be possible. Sincerely yours, Raymond Fong, MD President Annual Report 2010 | 2 Our 2010 Accomplishments: SUPPORTING PRESENTING THE THE CHINATOWN CHARLES B. WANG HEALTH CLINIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HEALTH CENTER LECTURE SERIES The Chinatown Health Clinic Each year, the foundation invites a prominent leader in the Foundation supports the area of health or public health to deliver a lecture before a Charles B. Wang Community gathering of community providers, board members, staff, Health Center, which serves and supporters. The lectures introduce the audience to an important role in the Asian emerging ideas from leading experts in the area of health American community. As care access, health care quality, public and community a source of comprehensive health practices, and scientific research. Through the primary health care for low- series, the foundation hopes to create an understanding of income patients, the health future challenges in the delivery of health care and provide center provides quality care, inspiration for those in attendance on how the challenges decreases the number of costly could be met. emergency room visits, and lowers the rates of preventable Last fall, the foundation was honored to have Dr. Benjamin hospitalizations. K. Chu deliver the annual lecture. Dr. Chu is the regional president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Prior With the foundation’s support, to joining Kaiser in 2005, Dr. Chu was president of the the health center provides New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, senior much-needed bilingual, associate dean at the Columbia University College of bicultural services in areas such Physicians and Surgeons, vice president for clinical affairs as internal medicine, women’s at New York University Medical Center, and associate health, pediatrics, dental care, dean at the New York University Medical Center. Dr. Chu mental health, social work, and was also formerly a board member of the Charles B. Wang health education. As a federally Community Health Center. qualified health center, the Charles B. Wang Community Dr. Chu shared valuable insights on how Health Center never turns the Kaiser Permanente health care patients away for lack of ability model improves health care to pay and thus serves as a quality, as well as the effects crucial health care provider to of health care reform on the most vulnerable populations, community health centers. including the uninsured, low- There was a lively income families, and patients exchange between who face language and cultural Dr. Chu and the access barriers. audience members. Annual Report 2010 | 3 Comments from AWARDING Scholarship Recipients SCHOLARSHIPS FOR “I am currently finishing my second CHARLES B. WANG year at NYU’s Wagner Program. In the COMMUNITY HEALTH coming months, I am preparing to take on the Capstone challenge. Capstone is CENTER STAFF AND an active part of the core curriculum of VOLUNTEERS the Masters of Public Administration program at Wagner. This year-long project will provide me a critical learning experience—addressing specific challenges for a particular At the Charles B. Wang Community Health organization and the wonderful Center, many of its bilingual and bicultural staff opportunity to perform additional are from the Asian American community and public service. The scholarship has share the same background and demographic helped me tremendously because I was as their patients. The health center trains able to use the award to pay for course community members to serve as providers, materials needed for class. I would like outreach workers, health educators, medical to take this opportunity to express my assistants, patient service representatives, and sincere gratitude—thank you!” care coordinators. As health care professionals, -Ada Feng, they give back to their community by improving Dickson Hee Scholarship recipient the health of their neighbors. The health center also encourages its student volunteers “As a graphic designer for the health to contribute to their community by pursuing center, it was a challenge to create careers in health care and developing leadership materials for a Chinese speaking skills. community without knowing how to speak, read, or write Chinese. The Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation The Dickson Hee Scholarship allowed supports the health center’s endeavors through me to take Mandarin language classes the Dickson Hee Scholarship and the Dr. that not only improved my workflow, Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders but helped me to better understand Scholarship. The Dickson Hee Scholarship helps the community that the health health center staff enroll in a course or training center serves.” program to develop their skills and advance -Grace Hong, their professional careers. The Dr. Thomas Dickson Hee Scholarship recipient Tam Community Health Leaders Scholarship recognizes high school students who participate “Once again, thank you for selecting in the health center’s Teen Resource Center and me as a recipient of the Dickson Hee demonstrate their commitment to community Scholarship. The scholarship provided service and their leadership potential. tremendous assistance and greatly helped me pay for my expensive With your gifts, we have been able to support tuition. I have finished two years the Dickson Hee Scholarship and the Dr. of studying to receive my associate Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders degree as a medical assistant.” Scholarship to help foster development of the -Flora Lai, next generation of health leaders in the Asian Dickson Hee Scholarship recipient American community. Annual Report 2010 | 4 “It is my great pleasure to announce that I have completed my computer training class, The experience and knowledge that I have gained from the class was valuable. It will benefit me in my work. I have learned a lot of computer skills and also improved my vocabulary. I really enjoyed the class. Thanks for providing me the chance to participate in the Dickson Hee Scholarship program.” “The Dr. Thomas Tam Community Health -Tina Lee, Leaders Scholarship has given me the chance Dickson Hee Scholarship recipient to pursue a well-rounded, strong liberal arts education at a private school that I otherwise “The Dickson Hee Scholarship would not have been able to afford. I have has given me the opportunity taken classes and participated in activities to take Mandarin classes. These that have suited my interests and allowed classes significantly increased my me to explore other fields. Thank you for understanding of Mandarin, so the scholarship; I hope that the Chinatown now I can better communicate Health Clinic Foundation can continue this with patients and community scholarship program that will benefit many members. Learning to speak students.” Mandarin has helped me in my -Valinda Chan, Dr. Thomas Tam Community daily life and has enabled me Health Leaders Scholarship recipient to do my job better. I am very grateful for this scholarship. “I have almost completed my first year at Thank you!” Binghamton University after being selected as -Melinda Tong, a Dr. Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders Dickson Hee Scholarship recipient Scholarship recipient. With the high cost of education, books, and other attached fees, I appreciated the scholarship for helping for me financially. For that, I would like to thank the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation again for helping me and providing great opportunities for the Chinatown community.” -Daphne Lee, Dr. Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders Scholarship recipient “I am currently enjoying my time as a second semester freshman at Syracuse University, and I am honored to have been a Dr. Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders Scholarship recipient. Thanks.” -Shao Mei Zhang, Dr. Thomas Tam Community Health Leaders Scholarship recipient Annual Report 2010 | 5 To provide enhanced health education for expectant PROMOTING mothers, the Chinatown Health Clinic Foundation has donated 600 copies of Xiao Bao Bao: Baby Basics to HEALTHY the Women’s Health Department at the Charles B. PREGNANCIES Wang Community Health Center. Nurses, health educators, and providers use Xiao Bao Bao to deliver WITH prenatal care education to pregnant women in a XIAO BAO BAO: friendly and culturally appropriate manner. Patients can also read the book in the health center’s BABY BASICS reception area or request their own copy of the book. The health center collaborated with the What to Expect Foundation to create Xiao Bao Bao, a Chinese adoption of Baby Basics: A Month by Month Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.